[Antihypertensive treatment preceding cerebrovascular diseases is insufficient according to recommendations].
BACKGROUND
Hypertension, diabetes mellitus and age are risk factors for cerebrovascular events. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of hypertension, diabetes and antihypertensive treatment preceding disease debut in patients admitted to hospital with cerebrovascular events in order to evaluate if recommendations are followed and treatment goals are achieved.


METHODS
A total of 351 patients were admitted to hospital due to cerebrovascular events during a three-month period in Vejle County. The study included the 253 (72%) of 351 patients whose blood pressure had been measured within the five year period preceeding hospitalisation. Patient data and information about medication before the cerebrovascular events were obtained from the hospital's electronic database and the health care system of Vejle County. Patients were divided into four groups: intracerebral haemorrhage, cerebral infarction, stroke and transient cerebral ischaemia.


RESULTS
The median patient age was 74 years with no gender difference. Diabetes was present in 13% of patients. A total of 74% of all patients had a pre-admission blood pressure that was too high, 59% were being treated with antihypertensives and 80% had blood pressure >/= 140/90. The remaining 41% of all patients received no antihypertensive treatment, though 66% had elevated blood pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
A total of 74% of all patients had increased blood pressure before hospital admittance. Our study shows that management of hypertension is unsatisfactory, and many cerebrovascular events may be prevented through improved detection of unknown hypertension and more intensive anti-hypertensive treatment.
Nielsen
Aneta Aleksandra
AA
Klinisk Biokemisk Afdeling, Vejle Sygehus, DK-7100 Vejle. Aneta.Aleksandra.Nielsen@vgs.regionsyddanmark.dk
Christensen
Cramer
C
Brandslund
Ivan
I
Eriksen
Ebbe Wendel
EW
Schmitz
Anita
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents